Tiny home rules in Fort Worth, TX — covering tiny houses on wheels (THOWs), park model RVs, and tiny home on foundation builds — determine where they are legal and how they get permitted.
Fort Worth permits tiny homes on foundations meeting IRC Appendix Q, but prohibits tiny homes on wheels as permanent dwellings in most residential zones.
Fort Worth allows tiny homes on permanent foundations if they meet the adopted International Residential Code Appendix Q for dwellings 400 square feet or less. Minimum room sizes, ceiling heights, egress windows, and loft ladders all apply. The unit must connect to water, sewer, and electrical service like any other dwelling and sit on a permanent foundation. Tiny homes on wheels (THOW), including those built to RVIA or ANSI 119.5 park-model standards, are treated as RVs under city code. RVs may not be used as permanent dwellings in residential single-family zones; they are limited to licensed RV parks or short-term occupancy. An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) allowance exists in certain zones and can accommodate a stationary tiny home-sized unit, subject to owner occupancy of the primary residence and setback rules. Minimum lot size, setbacks, and parking requirements apply just as they do to any ADU.
Unpermitted foundation construction or using a THOW as a permanent residence in residential zones draws fines up to $2,000 per day, with orders to remove the structure or relocate to a licensed RV park.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Tarrant County.
See how other cities in Tarrant County handle tiny homes.
See how Fort Worth's tiny homes rules stack up against other locations.
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